This time line is all screwed up now, but I don't care. We have now flipped back a few years. This wasn't my bike, it was Stuarts (OZ). He's the one sitting on it in case you were wondering. He lent me this bike for a while as he didn't have a garage. It was a fun bike.

Apparently one of the owners had gone over a bridge in Glasgow on it, and landed in the human waste processing vats under the bridge. Stuart took off one of the rubber handle bar grips and snipped to confirm the story. He confirmed it.

One of the most miserable rides in my life was on this bike. We were in Oban for the weekend and had to be back for a certain time, so that meant riding through the night. But it was a dark and stormy night, and really cooled off. Rode the 80 miles as fast as we could to get to the ferry. Soaked and freezing. Remember going 90mph down a hill, then looked at the tacho and it was off the scale (opps). Think we got there ok in the end though.

Honda CB125 Superdream. I swapped the chop I swapped for the XJ550 for this. Plan was to sell if for a profit (they are quite sought after in the learner market).

I was at James Watt College doing Electronics and Electrical Engineering at the time, and I knew a girl who was looking for a bike to display in the graphic design department for an exam. I lent her mine. JGA 595 Y

This was a really nice bike. I bought it off the same guy I bought the CX500 from (Hi Andy!). We were both working down in the same part of England at the time. I had this for two or three years I think. I was the area rep for the North Hertfordshire Motorcycle Action Group at the time.

I once raced a Ferrari GTO350 (or something of that ilk) when coming back from Devon, Cornwall. He was two cars ahead of me on twisty country roads, both of us were passing cars at the same rate (I had a long way to go so wasn't hanging around). Comes up to a looooonnnnngggggg straight bit in the road and we both yank it wide open. ... 50 ... 60 ... 70 ....80 ....90....100 ... 110.... 120.... I gave up at that, and he was STILL pulling away from me. Found out later on there are only about 10 of those cars in the UK. Anything over a 110 and the front fairing started to act like an aircraft wing, lifting the front wheel off the ground.

I had to sell this (along with the Z650 Chop) when I came to America. Now I think about it, I wish I had this one back as well. GLB 460 T.

I bought this as a present for myself for moving to America. It's a 1997 model, but I bought it in Dec '97 when the '98 model had just come out (I got a deal). Top speed is supposed to be about 170mph, but I've only had it up to 135mph. Even then it still want to GO! Pulls like a train and the front end lifts when pulling away from lights if you give it a fist-full. Eats back tire's (I'm on my third in three years). I use the standard Bridestone Battalax BT56's and have never had a problem with them. Loads of feedback and never washed out. Can get a bit vague when you're really cranked over, but this may be suspension setup (factory standard, they know more than I do).

I've taken this one to Sturgis twice (never had any problems) and California (not recommended on a sports bike). MC 77-938

It's getting a little long in the tooth now, so I'm thinking about getting the Kawasaki ZRX 1200 R 'Eddie Lawson' 1200. It's more of a street bike and a bit more practical day to day (big comfy seat, pillion grab rails, sit-up riding style and still bags of power)..

http://www.kawasaki.com/motorcycles/naked/index.html